METRO DIGEST || Basketball program planned for students

The Youngstown City School District’s athletic department has teamed up with Finer Things Academy Inc. to sponsor a sports and social-skills basketball program for students in third through sixth grades.

Only the first 150 boys and girls whose parents or guardians complete the registration process will be accepted into the program. Registration will be at Williamson, Kirkmere and Taft elementary schools Tuesday and Thursday. There will be no late registration.

Bazetta man pleads innocent to theft

WARREN

Orlando A. Montoya, 37, of Trapper’s Trail in Bazetta Township has pleaded innocent in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court to theft from an elderly person for purportedly stealing $48,250 from a 76-year-old Mineral Ridge woman.

Weathersfield Township police began their investigation after the woman contacted police in August, saying she had contacted an investment firm and started investing with Montoya in July 2012 but was suspicious of him.

Police determined that Montoya had never invested her money and converted it to his own use.

Police seized two guns, cash and drugs Wednesday while serving two search warrants during a drug activity investigation.

At 618 W. Heights Ave. about 5 p.m., police found a .22-caliber rifle and a crack pipe. Keenan Colvin, 20, of Youngstown, was cited for drug abuse and possession of drug paraphernalia.

At 513 E. Florida Ave. about 6:30 p.m., police found a scale, two bags of marijuana, a crack pipe, cash and a .38-caliber revolver. Arrested on drug charges there was 20-year-old Zachary Markovich of Poland and Levert F. Dent, 25, of Youngstown.

Both were taken to the Mahoning County jail and are expected to be arraigned in Youngstown Municipal Court today.

Fire damages home

YOUNGSTOWN

Reports say a fire at a 640 W. Princeton Ave. home about 4:30 a.m. Thursday caused about $5,500 in damage.

Firefighters first went to LaClede and Glenwood avenues after a 911 call but nothing was spotted until fire officials saw the flames on Princeton, reports said.

Neighbors told firefighters the people who lived in the home had moved out the day before.

Reports said the fire appeared to have started in the attic. The cause is under investigation.

Woman reports items missing from home

YOUNGSTOWN

A woman returned to her home in the 3000 block of Howard Street about 12:45 a.m. Wednesday and discovered $2,000 in cash and a pair of diamond earrings missing.

Also gone were two televisions, reports said.

The woman told police when she returned home she found a window and a door open.

Reports did not say how someone may have gotten inside but the woman told police her house was locked up before she left.